He later signed with HC Slovan Bratislava of the Kontinental Hockey League, before attempting to return to the NHL via the Montreal Canadiens who assigned him to the Rocket, their AHL affiliate.

[3] After two seasons of play, Després was rated as the top professional prospect in the QMJHL by several scouting bureaus and media outlets in anticipation of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (June 26–27 in Montreal).

[8] Després made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on April 18, 2012, against the Philadelphia Flyers, logging 11:22 of ice time and finishing with a +2 plus-minus rating.

[9] Després scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal on May 22 against Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Western Conference Finals.

With his future uncertain because of his medical history, and due to salary cap constraints, the Anaheim Ducks opted to buy-out the remaining three years of his contract on June 16, 2017.

[citation needed] As a free agent, Després was offered an attempt of a comeback to the NHL, in accepting an invitation to the Montreal Canadiens training camp on July 12, 2018.

[14] In the midst of the 2018–19 season, Després agreed to a professional try-out contract with the Canadiens AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, on December 3, 2018.

[16] On July 5, 2019, Després extended his career in Europe, agreeing to a one-year contract with newly promoted Swedish club, IK Oskarshamn of the SHL.